Apparatus for removing foreign materials on can of rechargeable battery

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for removing foreign materials on a can of a rechargeable battery according to an embodiment comprises: a can in which an electrode assembly is embedded; a puck on which the can is mounted; and a suction tube configured to remove foreign materials attached to an end of the can by forming a flow of air at an end of an opening formed on one side of the can.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0060118 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Jun. 24, 2010, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present technology relates generally to an apparatus for removing foreign materials on a can of a rechargeable battery during the manufacturing process of a rechargeable battery.

2. Description of the Related Technology

With the increased developments in technology and demand for mobile devices, the demand for use of a rechargeable battery as an energy source has increased. Generally, a cylindrical rechargeable battery has a larger capacity than that of a rectangular rechargeable battery or a pouch-type rechargeable battery.

The manufacturing process of a rechargeable battery typically includes processes of inserting an electrode assembly formed by disposing and winding a positive electrode and a negative electrode on both surfaces of a separator into a cylindrical can through an opening of the can, injecting an electrolyte solution into the can, and installing a cap assembly at an opening of the can.

The rechargeable battery manufacturing process typically includes a process of inserting the electrode assembly into the can and a process of removing foreign materials attached to the opening of the can before moving to subsequent processes. The foreign materials introduced into the can may cause product defects, such as shorting of the positive electrode from the negative electrode, and preventing effects of the electrolyte solution.

The apparatus for removing foreign materials typically removes foreign materials by the insertion of a jig into the opening of the can and application of a negative pressure to the outer surface and the inner surface of the can in a state of fixing the can while contacting the inner surface and the end of the can. Therefore, the apparatus for removing foreign materials does not remove foreign materials attached to the end of the opening from the can.

The information disclosed in the Background is only intended to enhance understanding of the background of the described technology and thus may contain information that does not form the prior art known to a person with ordinary skill in the art.

SUMMARY

The described technology has been made in an effort to provide an apparatus for removing foreign materials on a can of a rechargeable battery for removing the foreign materials attached to the end of the opening from the can during the process of manufacturing a rechargeable battery.

An embodiment provides an apparatus for removing foreign materials on a can of a rechargeable battery, including: can in which an electrode assembly is embedded; a puck on which the can is mounted; and a suction tube configured to remove foreign materials attached to an end of the can by forming flow of air at an end of an opening formed on one side of the can.

According to an embodiment, the apparatus for removing foreign materials on a can of a rechargeable battery according to an embodiment may further include: a conveyor configured to transfer the puck; and a holder for the suction tube provided on an upper side of the puck and configured to hold the suction tube.

According to an embodiment, the apparatus for removing foreign materials on a can of a rechargeable battery according to an embodiment may further include a lifting cylinder configured to lift the holder for the suction tube toward the opening of the can.

According to an embodiment, the inner diameter of the suction tube may be larger than the outer diameter of the can.

According to an embodiment, the can has a cylindrical shape and the suction tube is configured to fall to form the flow of air at the end of the opening, and the suction tube and the can are positioned on a line along a lengthwise direction of the can and share a range of overlapping in the lengthwise direction.

According to an embodiment, the suction tube is disposed at an outer side of the end of the opening to receive the end.

According to an embodiment, the inner surface of the suction tube and the outer surface of the end form an interval space therebetween.

The apparatus for removing foreign materials on a can of a rechargeable battery according to an embodiment may further include stoppers that are disposed at opposite sides of the can and the lower side of the suction tube, wherein the stoppers are configured to move toward and away from the side of the can to support the side of the can.

The stopper may include a can supporting portion configured to support the side of the can, and a puck supporting portion mounted with the can supporting portion and configured to support the side of the puck.

The apparatus for removing foreign materials on a can of a rechargeable battery according to an embodiment may further include a guide provided on a lower side of the puck supporting portion and on a conveyor transferring the puck, wherein the guide is configured to support the side of the puck and transfer the puck on the conveyor.

An embodiment provides an apparatus for removing foreign materials on a can of a rechargeable battery comprises: a suction tube configured to be lifted toward an opening of the can and fall to form a flow of air at the end of the opening.

According to an embodiment, the apparatus for removing foreign materials on a can of a rechargeable battery further comprises a holder for the suction tube provided on an upper side of the puck.

According to an embodiment, the apparatus for removing foreign materials on a can of a rechargeable battery further comprises a conveyor configured to transfer the puck, wherein the puck is disposed on the conveyor.

According to an embodiment, the suction tube has an inner diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the can.

According to an embodiment, the suction tube and the can share a range of overlapping length in the lengthwise direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for removing foreign materials on a can of a rechargeable battery according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a state diagram in which a puck is held with a guide in an apparatus for removing foreign materials on a can of a rechargeable battery of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a state diagram in which a can is held with a stopper subsequent to a state of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a state diagram in which foreign materials are sucked into a suction tube subsequent to a state of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a state diagram in which flow of air is formed between an opening of a can and a suction tube in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a state diagram of a process of sucking foreign materials on a can by holding pucks with a guide;

FIG. 7 is a state diagram of a process of sucking foreign materials on a can by holding pucks with a guide, sucking foreign materials on the can, and then transferring a puck by a guide;

FIG. 8 is a state diagram of a process of separating a guide from a puck after transferring the puck; and

FIG. 9 is a state diagram of a process of retuning a guide into a new puck after separating the guide.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for removing foreign materials on a can of a rechargeable battery according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, an apparatus 1 for removing foreign materials on a can of a rechargeable battery according to an embodiment (hereinafter, referred to as “an apparatus for removing foreign materials”) includes a puck 3 on which a can 2 is mounted and a suction tube 4 that forms a flow of air at an end E of an opening of the can 2 mounted on the puck 3.

As an example, the can 2 may be formed with a cylinder shape. Hereinafter, the apparatus for removing foreign materials will be described, by way of example, with reference to the cylindrical can 2. The apparatus for removing foreign materials according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 may be also applied to a rectangular can (not shown).

Although the can 2 includes an electrode assembly 5, it is not connected to a cap assembly (not shown) electrically connected to the electrode assembly 5. In other words, the can 2 may be introduced into the apparatus 1 for removing foreign materials in a state where an opening is opened. Therefore, in the apparatus 1 for removing foreign materials, a tab 6 connected to the electrode assembly 5 may be protruded outside the opening of the can 2.

The electrode assembly 5 may be formed by stacking a positive electrode and a negative electrode on both surfaces thereof, putting a separator therebetween and winding the stack into a cylindrical shape. The positive electrode and the negative electrode may include a current collector formed of a metal thin plate and an active material layer coating on the current collector. In addition, the current collector may include a coating portion on which the active material layer is formed and a non-coated portion on which the active material layer is not formed. The non-coated portion of the positive electrode may be connected to the positive current collector and the non-coated portion of the negative electrode may be connected to the negative current collector. For example, the negative current collector may be connected to the can and the positive current collector may be connected to the cap assembly by a tab. Alternatively, the negative current collector may be connected to the cap assembly by the tab and the positive current collector may be connected to the can. The can 2 may be made of a conductive metal such as aluminum, aluminum alloy, or nickel plating steel.

The apparatus 1 for removing foreign materials according to an embodiment electrode assembly may be configured to remove foreign materials attached to an end E of the opening of the can 2 supported by and supplied to the puck 3 from the suction tube 4, in a state in which it includes the electrode assembly 5. To this end, a negative pressure may be applied to the suction tube 4. The apparatus 1 for removing foreign materials may further include a conveyor 7 that transfers the puck 3 and a suction holder 8 holding the suction tube 4 at the upper side of the puck 3.

A conveyor 7 may transfer the pucks 3 and transfer the cans 2 supported by each of the pucks 3 to the apparatus 1 for removing foreign materials. That is, the conveyor 7 may supply the cans 2 to the apparatus 1 for removing foreign materials and may continuously perform an operation of transferring the cans 2 from which foreign materials may be removed from the apparatus 1.

The holder 8 for the suction tube may hold the suction tube 4 provided on the upper side of the puck 3, such that the negative pressure applied to the suction tube 4 may be applied to the opening of the can 2, thereby making it possible to form the flow of air at the end E of the opening. In this case, in order to strongly form an air flow between the suction tube 4 and the opening of the can 2, the interval space C between the suction tube 4 and the can 2 should be narrowed or controlled (see FIG. 5).

To this end, the apparatus 1 for removing foreign materials may further include a lifting cylinder 9 that lifts the holder 8 for the suction tube with respect to the end E of the opening of the can 2. The lifting cylinder 9 may be vertically installed to the can 2 vertically mounted on the puck 3, and may be connected to the holder 8 for the suction tube. The holder 8 for the suction tube and the suction tube 4 can fall or rise toward the end E of the opening of the can 2 by expanding or contracting the lifting cylinder 9.

In other words, the suction tube 4 and the can 2 can form the air flow therebetween by the operation of the lifting cylinder 9, thereby making it possible to remove the foreign materials attached to the end E of the opening. The component of mutually approaching or spacing the suction tube 4 and the can 2 can be configured to lift the suction tube 4 in the state where the can 2 is fixed as in the present embodiment. Although not shown, the component can be configured to lift the can 2 in a state in which the suction tube 4 is fixed.

The shape of the suction tube 4 may be formed to correspond with the cylinder of the can 2 and to correspond with the shape of the suction tube 4 of the holder 8 for the suction tube. In the present embodiment, the can 2 may be formed in the shape of a cylinder and thus, the suction tube 4 may be formed in the shape of a cylinder. The can may have a circular curved surface to be closely attached to the outer surface of the suction tube 4 so that the holder 8 for the suction tube can hold the cylinder. Further, when the can is rectangular, the suction tube may be formed in a rectangular shape corresponding to the can and the holder for the suction tube may have the rectangular surface closely attached to the outer surface of the suction tube to be able to hold the quadrangular shape (not shown).

FIG. 2 is diagram showing a state in which a puck is held with a guide in an apparatus for removing foreign materials on a can of a rechargeable battery of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which a can is held with a stopper subsequent to the state of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the apparatus 1 for removing foreign materials according to embodiments may include a stopper 11 supporting the side of the can 2 supplied to the lower side of the suction tube 4. The stoppers 11 may be separated on both surfaces of the can 2 and may be mutually disposed in a symmetrical structure with each configured to move toward and away from the side of the can 2.

The stoppers 11 may mutually move toward the can 2 to support the can 2, such that the foreign materials attached to the can 2 can be safely removed by the negative pressure of the suction tube 4. In addition, the stopper 11 may move away from the can 2 to release the support of the can 2, thereby making it possible to transfer the can 2 and the puck 3 from which foreign materials are removed. The component of moving the stopper 11 toward and away from the can 2 may be the known actuator (not shown). Therefore, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

More specifically, the stopper 11 may include a can supporting portion 11 a supporting the side of the can 2 and a puck supporting port 11 b mounted with the can supporting portion 11 a and supporting the side of the puck 3. When the can supporting portion 11 a supports or releases the side of the can 2, the puck supporting portion 11 b supports or releases the side of the puck 3. As described above, the can supporting portion 11 a may be integrally operated with the puck supporting portion 11 b such that the puck 3 and the can 2 mounted thereon may stop or move integrally.

The can supporting portion 11 a may support the can 2 with a wide friction area, having a concave surface that is concavely formed corresponding to the outer surface of the convex outer surface of the can 2. The puck supporting portion 11 b may be formed in a plate shape and support the puck 3 with a wide friction area, having the concave surface concavely formed corresponding to the convex outer surface of the puck 3. In addition, the puck supporting portion 11 b may form a plurality of concave surfaces, thereby making it possible to support the plurality of pucks 3 around the pucks, while removing the foreign materials from the can 2 of one puck 3.

In addition, the apparatus 1 for removing foreign materials according to the present embodiment may further include a guide 12 for transferring the puck 3 on the conveyor 7, supporting the side of the puck 3. The puck 3 mounted with the can 2 is transferred according to the movement of the conveyor 7, having the mutual friction force. The guide 12 may transfer the puck 3 supplied to the apparatus 1 for removing foreign materials outside the apparatus 1.

The guide 12 may be provided on the lower side of the puck supporting portion 11 b and may be provided on the conveyor 7 transferring the puck 3. The guide 12 may be operated to be transferred on the conveyor 7 outside the apparatus 1 for removing foreign materials, supporting the side of the puck 3. The guide 12 may be formed in a plate shape and may support the puck 3 with wide friction area, having the concave surface concavely formed corresponding to the convex outer surface of the puck 3. The guide 12 may form a plurality of concave surfaces, thereby making it possible to support the plurality of pucks 3 around the pucks while the foreign materials are removed from the can 2 of one puck 3.

When the foreign materials are removed with respect to one puck 3, the upper side of the puck 3 may be supported by the puck supporting portion 11 b of the stopper 11 and when the puck 3 is transferred, the lower side of the puck 3 may be supported by the guide 12. The stopper 11 does not hinder the operation of the guide 12 and the guide 12 may be mutually operated so as not to hinder the operation of the stopper 11.

In other words, as shown in FIG. 2, when the guide 12 supports the puck 3, the stopper 11 may maintain the state in which it is spaced away from the puck 3 and the can 2. As shown in FIG. 3, when the stopper 11 maintains the puck 3 and the can 2, the guide 12 may be maintained in a state in which it is spaced away from the puck 3. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the suction tube 4 does not operate, such that the suction tube 4 rises from the upper side of the can 2, thereby maintaining the spaced state.

FIG. 4 is a state diagram in which foreign materials are sucked into a suction pipe subsequent to a state of FIG. 3. Referring to FIG. 4, the suction tube 4 may fall such that it maintains the state in which it can suck the foreign materials from the upper side of the can 2. In this configuration, the stopper 11 can support the puck 3 and the can 2.

In order to form the flow of air between the suction tube 4 and the end E of the openings of the can 2, the can 2 may be inserted into the suction tube 4. To the contrary, the suction tube may be formed in a double structure, such that it may be inserted into the can, and enclose the outside of the can (not shown).

FIG. 5 is a diagram in which a flow of air is formed between an opening of a can and the suction pipe of FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 5, the inner diameter D1 of the suction tube 4 may be formed to be larger than the outer diameter D2 of the can 2.

The suction tube 4 and the can 2 may be positioned on a straight line along the cylindrical, lengthwise direction (z-axis direction, height direction of FIG. 5) of the can 2 and may include a range P of overlapping length in the z-axis direction. In other words, the suction tube 4 may be disposed on the outer side of the end E of the opening to be received within the space of range P overlapping the end E. Therefore, the inner surface and the suction tube 4 and the outer surface of the end E may form the interval space C therebetween.

The negative pressure applied to the suction tube 4 may form the flow of air through the interval space C. In this case, the overlapping range P and the interval space C formed therein can strengthen the flow or air. Therefore, the flow of air may be formed between the inner surface of the suction tube 4 and the outer surface of the end E of the opening. In addition, air can flow to the inner portion of the opening and the inner surface of the opening E. In other words, the foreign materials attached to the end E including the inner surface and the outer surface of the opening can be sucked into the suction tube 4 and then, removed.

As described above, while removing foreign materials from the apparatus 1, a sliding can occur between the conveyor 7 proceeding in one direction (x-axis direction) and the fixing puck 3. In other words, the apparatus 1 for removing foreign materials does not hinder the driving of the conveyor 7 while the foreign materials are removed. The can 2 and the puck 3 from which the foreign materials are moved may be transfer red to the conveyor 7 by the guide 12, which then proceeds to the subsequent process.

Hereinafter, the transfer of the puck 3 mounted with the can 2 by the operation of the guide 12 will be described. The guide 12 may be driven by various driving apparatuses. Therefore, the detailed description of the apparatus of driving the guide 12 will be omitted and the movement of the puck 3 according to the driving of the guide 12 will be described by way of example.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a process of sucking foreign materials on a can by gripping pucks with a guide. Referring to FIG. 6, the guide 12 can move to the puck 3 in a spaced state (imaginary line), facing each other based on a start position SP, thereby supporting the puck 3. For example, the guide 12 can support first to fourth pucks P1, P2, P3, and P4.

In this case, the foreign materials may be removed from the can 2 mounted on at least one puck 3 of the first, second, third, and fourth pucks P1, P2, P3, and P4. Although the present embodiment describes removing foreign materials from the can 2 of one puck 3, it may include the plurality of suction tube 4, thereby making it possible to remove the foreign materials from the can 2 of the plurality of pucks 3 (not shown).

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a process of sucking foreign materials on a can by gripping pucks with a guide, sucking foreign materials on the can, and then transferring a puck by a guide. Referring to FIG. 7, the guide 12 may move on the conveyor 7 by a puck pitch PP from the imaginary line state of the start position SP to the solid line state, while supporting the first, second, third, and fourth pucks P1, P2, P3, and P4.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a process of separating a guide from a puck after transferring the puck. Referring to FIG. 8, the guide 12 may be spaced away from the puck 3 in the state (imaginary line) supporting the puck 3 at a position transferred by the puck pitch PP. For example, the guide 12 may be spaced away from the transferred first, second, third, and fourth pucks P1, P2, P3, and P4. In this case, the first, second, third, and fourth pucks P1, P2, P3, and P4 may be disposed on the conveyor 7 at a position transferred by the puck pitch PP.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of a process of retuning a guide into a new puck after separating the guide. Referring to FIG. 9, the guide 12 may be spaced away from the puck 3 and at the same time, be returned by the puck pitch PP from the imaginary line state to the solid line state. In this case, the guide 12 prepares to support newly supplied puck P5 facing the first, second, and third pucks P1, P2, and P3, instead of the fourth puck P4 mounted with the can 2 from which the foreign materials are removed.

The apparatus 1 for removing foreign materials may repeatedly control the guide 12 through the process shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, repeatedly control the stopper 11 through the process shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and repeatedly control the suction tube 4 as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, thereby making it possible to remove foreign materials attached to the end E of the opening of the can 2.

While this disclosure has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

1. An apparatus for removing foreign materials on a can of a rechargeable battery, comprising: a can in which an electrode assembly is embedded; a puck on which the can is mounted; and a suction tube configured to remove foreign materials attached to an end of the can by forming a flow of air at an end of an opening formed on one side of the can.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a conveyor configured to transfer the puck, wherein the puck is disposed on the conveyor; and a holder for the suction tube provided on an upper side of the puck and configured to hold the suction tube.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: a lifting cylinder configured to lift the holder for the suction tube toward the opening of the can.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the suction tube has an inner diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the can.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the can has a cylindrical shape, the suction tube is configured to fall to form the flow of air at the end of the opening, and the suction tube and the can are positioned on a line along a lengthwise direction of the can and share a range of overlapping length in the lengthwise direction.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein: the suction tube is disposed at an outer side of the end of the opening to receive the end.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein: the inner surface of the suction tube and the outer surface of the end form an interval space therebetween.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: stoppers that are disposed at opposite sides of the can and the lower side of the suction tube, wherein the stoppers are configured to move toward and away from the side of the can to support the side of the can.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein: the stopper includes a can supporting portion configured to support the side of the can, and a puck supporting portion mounted with the can supporting portion and configured to support the side of the puck.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: a guide provided on a lower side of the puck supporting portion and on a conveyor transferring the puck, wherein the guide is configured to support the side of the puck and transfer the puck on the conveyor.
 11. An apparatus for removing foreign materials on a can of a rechargeable battery, comprising: a puck with a surface for mounting of a can of a rechargeable battery; and a suction tube configured to be lifted toward an opening of the can and fall to form a flow of air at the end of the opening.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a holder for the suction tube provided on an upper side of the puck.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a conveyor configured to transfer the puck, wherein the puck is disposed on the conveyor.
 14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the suction tube has an inner diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the can.
 15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the suction tube and the can share a range of overlapping length in the lengthwise direction. 